Ryn took it back. “Fine, I’ll read it…” He cleared his throat. “ ‘The governor is the most sadistic bastard to ever breathe our beloved Caronese air. Every second he lives is an affront to any decent being in this universe. As all of you know, the League will not help us. Not while he and the rest of the noxious aristos pay them to turn a blind eye to their murderous crimes. The governor is so sadistic and cruel that his own guards refuse to do their due diligence and protect him. His gerents live in fear of his wrath and insanity. Reliable sources have told me how they cower at the mere mention of his name. And well they should. I have witnessed both firsthand, and I bear the bruises and wounds to prove it. Every night I bleed anew from his incessant beatings and every morning, his staff is forced to clean my blood from the walls and floors while I am kept as his own personal pet to be tortured at his leisure. I beg you, my brothers and sisters, to rally as much fire as you can to help me forever end the reign of Cruel. Ever your leader…” Ryn paused for effect, “Zarya Starska.”

She gasped as Ryn finished.

Bitterly amused, Darling opened his eyes to stare at her as best he could. “Something you need to tell me, sweetie?”

Zarya was aghast at his nonchalant tone and his question. Horror filled her. “I didn’t write that. I swear!”

Ryn handed his mobile to her. “It’s a scan of someone’s handwriting. You recognize it?”

Her jaw went slack as she read the words that she’d never even considered writing. “It looks like mine, but it’s not. I haven’t touched a computer except to read it or hand it to Darling.” Terrified of what he must think, she met Darling’s unstable gaze. “Darling, I promise you that—”

“Relax, Z. I’m not stupid.” He closed his eyes and covered them with his arm. “If you wanted me dead, you’ve had more than enough chances to kill me. Instead, you saved my life, and I’m pretty sure the shower incident was an accident.”

Relieved at his sanity, she sat down on the bed, then returned the mobile to Ryn. “Thank the gods you’re reasonable.”

Ryn scoffed at her. “Yeah well, that doesn’t change the damage this thing is doing to his tarnished reputation. It’s gone viral as hell. The civs and the Resistance believe it’s real, especially since someone posted photos of your bathroom with broken glass and blood everywhere—including one of your nightgowns that was soaked in blood. And I have to admit, it’s gruesome. In response to those photos, the Resistance is sending out e-mails, saying that if you’re not released into their custody within a week, they’re going to bomb the palace, drag Darling out and set fire to him on the steps of the CDS building. Meanwhile, everyone—and I mean everyone—is panicking with fears of how many of them are going to die in the cross fire.”